New Zealand’s Nate Pringle Secures Silver at Cycling World Champs

New Zealand cyclist Nate Pringle achieved a remarkable second-place finish in the men’s under-23 time trial at the World Road Cycling Championships held in Rwanda. Pringle completed the challenging 31.2 km course in just over a minute behind the winner, Jakob Soderqvist of Sweden. The competition was fierce, with Maxime Decomble from France finishing closely behind Pringle, just under half a second away from securing the silver medal.

The course featured several climbs and concluded on cobbled roads, presenting a demanding challenge for all competitors. Reflecting on his performance, Pringle stated, “It’s surreal. It was a bit of a surprise, but I don’t really have anything to compare it to. I just went as hard as I could and then tried to recover, but I was pretty dead by those cobbles; they were so much harder in person, but it was really fun.”

Despite his success in the time trial, Pringle will not participate in the upcoming road race due to logistical challenges in transporting his other bikes to Rwanda. The 21-year-old cyclist joined the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe Rookies team in March 2023, a significant step in his professional career. Earlier this year, he also claimed victory in the New Zealand under-23 time trial championship, showcasing his growing talent in the sport.

As Pringle continues to develop his skills on the international stage, his silver medal performance in Rwanda marks a promising milestone in his cycling journey.